Relief valve



A June 19, 1923. 1,459,546

A. w. MILLER RELIEF vALvE Filed June 23, 1921 WITNESSESS INVEN'I'OR QwLM/M' v ATTORNEYS Patented June 19, 1923.

Mata

ARNOLD W. MILLER,

BOOK, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

anninr VALVE.

Application filed June 23,

To all 101 2-0772, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARNOLD W. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Relief Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices known as relief valves or traps prlncipally employed in connection with steam heating systems to discharge the water oi condensation, air and other fluids from the system without unnecessary waste of steam.

m This invention has for its object to produce a simple and durable device of the class referred to in which the float employed therein for actuating the valve member proper is not subjected to undue lateral impacts by the entrance of the fluids into the valve casing from the heating system, thus rendering the float and attached valve at all times readily responsive to the level of the condensate collected in said casing, reducing the friction between the valve stem and the means for guiding the same, and assuring a proper seating of the valve at all times.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device which will operate effectively, that is, will be sensitive regardless of the employment of guiding means to maintain the float and valve in alignment, and to provide a self-feeding valve so as to elimi nate the troubles resulting from the sticking of the same. i y I Still further objects are to provide, a

construction wherein a passage for the air or gaseous medium to be discharged is constantly maintained and to provide means whereby the float chamber may be readily cleaned or drained without disturbing the installation of the device and without interrupting its functioning. v F An embodiment of the applicants invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through applicants device, and Fig. 2 a transverse section taken on the line IIII in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 denotes a casing having a removable top 2 provided with spaced lugs3 for limiting the upward 1921. Serial d. 479,902.

movement of a float a, the upper end which is connected by the hollowv stem 5 to a conical valve 6 which coacts with a seat 7.-

The seat 7 is located upon the inneredge of a raised annular rib 7 surrounding the discharge opening 8 in the bottom of the casing. The rib 7 is of sufficient height to maintain a substantial quantity of sealing liquid to effectively seal the by-pass valve.

or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To C. HowAnn 9 and to prevent sediment collecting in the bottom of the casing passin through the main valveand discharge dpening. The

valve 9 is located in the by-pass 10 connecting the annular trough 12 formed between the rib 7 and the sides of the casing 1 and the interior of a hollow extension 11 depending therefrom. By opening valve 9 sediment which has collected in the bottom of the casing may be discharged directly into the pipe connected to the extension 11, the same being also used to provide a free passage for the fluids in case the valve 6 becomes I stuck or otherwise "disabled. When the valve 9 is in closed position, the liquid collected in the annular trough 12 acts to seal said valve and to prevent the return of fluid therethrough. The passage in the hol low stem 5 is continued through the body of valve 6 and permits the passage of air or other gaseous medium to the discharge opening 8. The casing 1 is provided at its outlet side with an ofl'set enlargement 12 which extends substantially the full height of the casing and the inlet 13 connects with this enlargement at its upper end, the said inlet beingconnected by a union 14-, t th i v (not shown) leading from the heating system.

The external diameter of the float is somewhat less than the internal diameter of the casing so as to form an annular passage 15 which, in conjunction with the spaces be tween the spaced lugs 3 'maintain a constantly open passage for the gaseous medium between the inlet 13 and hollow stem 5. I

1 The float and valve stem are guided vertically by the rod 16 which, as shown, is of circular cross-section and smaller than the passage in hollow stem 5 to permit the passage offluids around the same and a slight lateral movement of the float.

The guiding means illustrated permit slight lateral movement of the float and attached parts within predetermined limits,

and the wabbling motion imparted to the valve keeps the valve head and its seatclean I float and its guiding means, due to the bind-; ing effect resulting from the tendency of the at all times; yet this movement is confined,

to such limits as to assure proper seating,

thus resulting in highly eflicientoperationf Were the float guided so as to maintain the same in substantially vertical position and at the same time were the float exposed to the impact of the inflowing fluids through the inlet 13 an excessive amount of friction would result between the vertical moving float to be forced in a lateral direction, or

- a tendency to unseat the valve would re sult, causing clattering. The offset portion 12 is provided and is made of such dimensions that the inflowing liquids do not for cibly strike the side of the float and the intpact due to the gaseous portions becomes smalL, The use of. this oflset 12 therefore permits the float and valve to be guided -within reasonably close limits without creatingobjectionable friction or rendering the operation ineflicient as isfrequently the case in known constructions, and at the same time permits a sufficient wabbling motion to assure keeping the valve and its seat clean at all times, resulting in. perfect seating,

The operation of the device is obvious from. the above description. Briefly it is as assa e around or throu h the uidin b b b b means being provided as previously explained. The gaseous portions pass down wardly through the stem 5 and valve 6 and are discharged through opening8. When av sufficient quantity of condensate has collected in the bottom of the casing to raise the float 4, the same rises, opening valve 6 and allows the condensate to be discharged. As soon, however, as a sufficient quantity of the condensate hasescaped to allow the float to descend so that the valve 6 contacts with its seat, said valve cuts off further escape and remains seated untilenough condensate has been again collected to raise the float i. It is thus seen that a constantly open passage for the gases and vapors is provided while the liquid portions are intermittently discharged by the opening of valve 6. I

The valve 9 is opened from time to time to permit a flow of liquid through the passage 10 for the purpose of removing sediment which has collected in the trough 12, or to provide a free passage whenever desired as I claim:

l. A relief valve comprising a casing, the bottom. of said casing having an opening surrounded by a valve seat, a valve coacting with said valve seat, means freely and loosely mounted in said casing responsive to previously described.

the level of the liquid thereinior control opening, an annular rib surrounding said opening and provided with a valve seat, a valve coacting with said'seat, a freely and loosely mounted float attached to said valve, said casing having an unobstructed baflieless offset portion at the side thereofforming a part of the casing proper for admitting fluids into the said casing, the offset portion being of sufficient size to permit the ingress of liquid into the casing without forcibly, striking the float. I i v 3. A relief valve comprising a casing, the bottom of said casing having a discharge port provided with a valve seat, a valve coacting with said seat, a float controlling said valve, the valve being connected to the top of said float by a stem provided with an open passage extending through the entire length of the stem. and valve, means in terposed between the top of the casing and float. to limit the upward movement of the I float but spacing the said top and float so as to permit the flow of gaseous medium to the passage v1n the valve stem, said casing havlng an offset portion of suflicient size to admit liquid thereto without pinging on the said float.

A relief valve comprising a casing, the bottom of said casing having a discharge port provided with a valve seat, a valve coacting with said seat, a float controlling said valve, the valve being connected. to the forcibly imtop of said float by a stem provided with an open passage extending entirely through the stem and valve, means interposed between the top of the casing and float to limit the upwardmovement of the float but spacing the said. top and float so as to per mit the flow of gaseous medium to, the pas sage in the valve stem, guiding ,me ans de pending from the top of'the casing'and loosely fitting the passage in said valve stem, said casing having anoffset portion of sufficlent size to, admit liquid thereto, without forcibly impinging on the said float.

5. A relief valve comprising a casing,

the bottom of said casing having a discharge opening, anannular rib surrounding said opening and provided with a valve seat, a conical valve coacting with the said seat, a freely and loosely mounted float attached to said valve, said casing having an offset alnobstructed baffleless portion at the side thereof for admitting fluids into said casing, the ofl'set portion being of sufficient size to permit the ingress of liquid into the casing without forcibly striking the float, a hollow extension depending from the bottom of the casing and surrounding the discharge opening and a valve controlled bypass extending through the bottom into the interior of said extension I 6. A relief valve comprising a casing, the bottom of said casing having a discharge port provided with a-valve seat, a valve coacting with said seat, a float controlling said valve, the valve being connected to the top of said float by a stem. provided with an open passage extending through the stem and valve, means interposed between the top of the casing and float to limit the upward movement of the float but spacing the said top and float so as to permit the flow of gaseous medium to the passage in the valve stem, guiding means depending from the top of the casing and loosely fitting and freely movable in the passage'in said valve stem so as to permit lateral movement of the float'within predetermined limits, said casing having an offset portion of suflicient size to admit liquid thereto without forcibly impinging on the said float.

7 A relief valve comprising a casing, the bottom of said casing having a discharge port provided with a valve seat, a float controlling said valve, the valve being Coirnected to the top of said float by a stem provided with an open passage extending,

through the stem and valve, spaced lugs depending from the top of the casing and adapted to' abut said float to limit, the upward movement of the float but spacing the said topand float s'o as'to permit the flow of gaseous medium to the passage in the valve stem, said casing having an offset portion of suflicient size to admit fluids thereto without forcibly impinging on the said float. p

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

ARNOLD w. MILLER.

Witnesses: 1 s R. D. LITTLE,

H. E. GAMBRILL. 

